June 22, 2020

When Father’s Day Is Complicated...

The sting of the hurt may burn fresh today.

You may scold yourself for not getting over it,

And letting it go.

Yet, even after you have forgiven, the pain keeps rising to the top.

So what do you do when what you hoped for in a father

doesn’t line up with what you got and lil’ holidays like Father’s Day pop up as an annual reminder?

Here’s my story...

While my dad was very much physically active in my life, his presence came with a lot of pain.

Now deceased,

I never got the apology I rehearsed over and over again in my mind,

Or the questions answered,

Or my whys addressed.

I tried to bury them,

But realized, they were simply shoved down,

And very much alive.

I knew I needed to get closure without him.

So, I chose to rewrite the Story.

I realized the story I told myself about my father,

was only partially true.

There were a lot of bad things, painful things that wracked my brain and heart for decades, but I didn’t want to keep living in that garbage.

In spite of the mess,

I learned so much about me, and what I needed and desired as a woman.

Through that pain,

I crafted a beautiful profile of what I wanted for my kids in a father and what I would never allow to happen to them because of the impact my past had on me.

I committed to end the cycle.

No, I didn’t get the fairytale daddy story,

but I did get to rewrite a new story,

One that included the good I inherited from the bad:

Like my commitment to not minimizing unhealthy parental behaviors;

my desire to shine a light on physical abuse;

and even the positive characteristics I inherited from my dad, like my unwavering passion and willingness

to fight for what I believe.

It wasn’t easy.

And, it took me years to rewrite the happy ending to my daddy story.

I chose to stop replaying the part that affirmed what I didn’t get.

I stand united with so many who were silenced by the enslaving words, “what happens in this house stays in this house.”

We are here,

Strong,

And

Fighting to rewrite the part of the story now within our control.

So where do we start? How do you begin to rewrite that which feels already written in stone?

You acknowledge your past while acknowledging the hope of the future.

Here are a few examples:

My dad wasn’t there, but even though he wasn’t, I am choosing a path of healing and accepting him not being there was because of his shortcomings, not mine.
My dad didn’t love me the way I desired, despite that, I realize I was loved by so many, who taught me how to become the woman I have become today.
My dad didn’t show up to activities that were important to me and because of how much that hurt me, I now make every effort to show up for my loved ones and demonstrate the love I wanted to receive.

Because of what I experienced, I am choosing to break the cycle and build examples of what healthy love and relationships look like.

You too can rewrite your story.

It starts with one sentence,

and then another,

until your new story is not simply one of hurt,

but one of hope..

You are a unique,masterful, valuable work of art, full of highs and lows, some radiant, and some gray,

I’ll admit that my dad no longer being alive

means I don’t have to freshly confront new demons.

That said, these ongoing, complicated relationships

often require crystal clear boundaries.

Read Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend (https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454/ref=nodl_)

to learn how to set healthy boundaries.

Friend, don’t put off the steps you can take towards beginning a journey to healing.

Get to writing...bring to light the hidden darkness…ask God to heal your broken heart…and maybe even seek a therapist =>

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

Happy Healing!

Xo

Najah

Scriptural references:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:17-18‬ ‭

The sting of the hurt may burn fresh today.

You may scold yourself for not getting over it,

And letting it go.

Yet, even after you have forgiven, the pain keeps rising to the top.

So what do you do when what you hoped for in a father

doesn’t line up with what you got and lil’ holidays like Father’s Day pop up as an annual reminder?

Here’s my story...

While my dad was very much physically active in my life, his presence came with a lot of pain.

Now deceased,

I never got the apology I rehearsed over and over again in my mind,

Or the questions answered,

Or my whys addressed.

I tried to bury them,

But realized, they were simply shoved down,

And very much alive.

I knew I needed to get closure without him.

So, I chose to rewrite the Story.

I realized the story I told myself about my father,

was only partially true.

There were a lot of bad things, painful things that wracked my brain and heart for decades, but I didn’t want to keep living in that garbage.

In spite of the mess,

I learned so much about me, and what I needed and desired as a woman.

Through that pain,

I crafted a beautiful profile of what I wanted for my kids in a father and what I would never allow to happen to them because of the impact my past had on me.

I committed to end the cycle.

No, I didn’t get the fairytale daddy story,

but I did get to rewrite a new story,

One that included the good I inherited from the bad:

Like my commitment to not minimizing unhealthy parental behaviors;

my desire to shine a light on physical abuse;

and even the positive characteristics I inherited from my dad, like my unwavering passion and willingness

to fight for what I believe.

It wasn’t easy.

And, it took me years to rewrite the happy ending to my daddy story.

I chose to stop replaying the part that affirmed what I didn’t get.

I stand united with so many who were silenced by the enslaving words, “what happens in this house stays in this house.”

We are here,

Strong,

And

Fighting to rewrite the part of the story now within our control.

So where do we start? How do you begin to rewrite that which feels already written in stone?

You acknowledge your past while acknowledging the hope of the future.

Here are a few examples:

My dad wasn’t there, but even though he wasn’t, I am choosing a path of healing and accepting him not being there was because of his shortcomings, not mine.

My dad didn’t love me the way I desired, despite that, I realize I was loved by so many, who taught me how to become the woman I have become today.

My dad didn’t show up to activities that were important to me and because of how much that hurt me, I now make every effort to show up for my loved ones and demonstrate the love I wanted to receive.

Because of what I experienced, I am choosing to break the cycle and build examples of what healthy love and relationships look like.

You too can rewrite your story.

It starts with one sentence,

and then another,

until your new story is not simply one of hurt,

but one of hope..

You are a unique,masterful, valuable work of art, full of highs and lows, some radiant, and some gray,

I’ll admit that my dad no longer being alive

means I don’t have to freshly confront new demons.

That said, these ongoing, complicated relationships

often require crystal clear boundaries.

Read Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend (https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454/ref=nodl_)

to learn how to set healthy boundaries.

Friend, don’t put off the steps you can take towards beginning a journey to healing.

Get to writing...bring to light the hidden darkness…ask God to heal your broken heart…and maybe even seek a therapist =>

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

Happy Healing!

Xo

Najah

Scriptural references:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:17-18‬ ‭

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“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:17-18‬ ‭